Lenticular Clouds Over the Argus Range
December 06, 2018
Photographer: Rick Scott
Summary Authors: Rick Scott; Jim Foster
Driving out of Pleasant Canyon in the Panamint Mountains of California, I saw this eye-catching, lenticular cloud formation, just east of the Argus Range. These mid-level clouds form when water vapor present in an atmospheric wave condenses as it's forced upward, in the crest of the wave, forming lens-shaped clouds. However, air moving on the downside of the wave (trough) is warmed adiabatically, preventing clouds from forming. Look for these wave clouds on the lee side of elevated terrain. This particular lenticular cloud reminds me of the starship Enterprise from "Star Trek." Photo taken on September 30, 2018.
Photo Details: Camera: Canon PowerShot G1 X; Software: Adobe Photoshop CS6 (Macintosh); Exposure Time: 0.0025s (1/400); Aperture: ƒ/8.0; ISO equivalent: 100; Focal Length: 15.1mm.